As she glanced over her shoulder at the door of the mans room, she was also certain of something else: if the red-haired girl was her mother, then the man being kept alive in the glass-and-metal tube was her master.
Well, this was a rather dismal waste of time, Finley commented as she and Emily worked their way through the dank darkness of the catacombs toward an exit. While their excursion had yielded a Roman coin, a few skeletons and a host of belligerent rats, it had not produced any information to support Jacks story.
She hadnt even found anything to hit. Kicking rubbish and old bottles didnt afford the same satisfaction.
Do you think Dandy lied to us? Emily asked.
Finley shook her head and wrinkled her nose as a whiff of something that smelled suspiciously like sewer assaulted her. Jack manipulates with charm and power. He doesnt lie so much as wrap the truth in temptation.
Youve given it considerable thought, havent you?
Despite Emilys teasing tone, Finley stiffened and made a point of shining the small but powerful lamp Emily had given her on the catacomb wall. Hes my friend.
Oh, now dont go getting all bent out of shape. Im just teasing, lass.
Im sorry, Em. I reckon Im more thinly skinned than I thought.
No need to apologize. I ought to have known better than to poke you when Griffins being such a dunderhead.
Dunderhead, Finley scoffed, unable to keep from smiling. I can think of a few stronger names to call him.
No doubt theyd be more succinct. Her friend grinned but quickly turned serious once more as she shone the beam of her light around them. Other than some tracks in the dirt I havent seen anything out of sorts. You?
Finley shook her head. If the automaton is down here theyve done a bang-up job of hiding it, and any tracks it might have made.
Emily glanced over her shoulder. I feel like someone is watching us. Did you hear that?
It sounded like a moan. Finley aimed her light in the direction of the sound. I dont see anything.
It could have come from anywhere. This place is bad for echoes.
And plenty of things that could have made such a sound.
Dont remind me. Ive heard that there are people who live down here, and strange creatures unlike anything youd see street-side.
Finley scratched her back. Now youve got me thinking were being watched, too. Shed rather take on a stronger opponent she could see than tangle with a weak one she couldnt.
Paranoias contagious. I dont see a ruddy thing and Im hungry. Lets go back to the house. I think I have spiders in my hair.
Just the thought made Finley shudder. Blood didnt bother her, nor did violence, but the thought of something crawling on herwell, that was enough to make a girl scream and run about like an idiot. There was just something sinister about something with so many legs, especially if they possessed wings. It wasnt natural.
Might as well, she agreed. I dont think were going to find anything.
Poor thing. I wonder if shes being looked after.
It took a moment longer than it should have for her to figure out what Emily was talking about. The automaton?
Aye.
Its a machine, Em. Im fairly certain it can look after itself. Not to mention it could break both the arms of a full-grown man without trying very hard.
Its not just a machine. Emily looked outraged that Finley would even think such a thing. If it was indeed covered in bits of flesh, then it has been exposed to organites. Either shes badly injured and decomposing, or her skin is not yet fully formed. Regardless, she most certainly cannot look after herself.
You think shes like the Victoria automaton? The thought of that awful thing put a bad taste in her mouth. It had looked so much like the queen that shed spent several days thinking someone was going to arrest her for ripping its head off. The thing had been so humanlike that destroying it felt like murder.
We both know what the beasties are capable of doing. They helped repair Sams heart, treated injuries. Theyre the reason wereevolved. I have no doubt that shes very much like the mechanical majesty. By the time the organite process is completed, I reckon shell be a living, breathing girl with a gregorite skeleton and a great capacity for learning. Ive no idea what someone might want with her. There are so many possibilities.
I wouldnt recommend thinking on it too hard, Finley suggested with a grimace. Ive heard stories about what some men like to do to automatons. Some women, too.
Emily held up a hand. In the dark her shirt was so very bright it made her look a little tanned, though she often burned more than anything else. I dont want to know, thank you very much.
Finley cast a sideways glance in her direction, her expression dubious. Whenever anyone says that its because they already know or have a fairly good idea.
I know lots of things, but that doesnt change the matter of me not wanting to speak of them. Im not the fragile little doll everyone seems to think I am.
She snorted. Nothing fragile about you, you mad Irish harpy. Finley waited until she had gotten a smile in return before pressing on. Now was as good a time as any. Em, did somebody hurt you?
Emily came to an abrupt stop. Her eyes were wide, but her jaw was firm, as though something inside her was trying to force its way out and she was determined to control it. I dont know what you mean, she said finally. When her expression went completely blankeven her eyesFinley knew shed struck a nerve, knew she was right. She wished she wasnt.
If you dont want to talk about it, thats fine. I dont want to pry, but if you doId like to listen. She began walking again to let her friend know she wasnt going to pressure her.
How did you know? Emily asked a few moments later when the silence between them had stretched on.
Finley shrugged. Good Lord, where was the bloody exit? For a while Ive suspected something had happened. Suspected and wished her friend would share with her, so she could share, as well. Lord Felix hadnt been the first bloke to try to force himself on her, but hed been the most frightening, and not just because he would have hurt her badly, but because of how badly she had wanted to hurt him for trying it.
I should have known youd figure it out. Of course you would.
Was that a compliment or a judgment? Maybe neither. No one who had ever been hurt in such a manner would treat someone elses experience as a positive thing, and they certainly wouldnt cast blame.
Do you want to talk about it? This was what girls who were friends did, right? Talked about things that had happened to them, traded secrets. Emily was only the second friend shed had since her twelfth birthday, and the first one had been her employer so it didnt really count. She had no idea how to handle this sort of situation.
Only she knew that she would like five minutes alone with whoever had hurt Em. Five minutes and a cricket bat.
Not really. Emily looked straight ahead. Not now. It was a boy Id known most of my life. Whats important is that he might have gotten my body, but he couldnt touch my heart or my soul. She turned her head toward Finley, gaze bright. Ive never told anyone else this, but I had my revenge on him later.
Not really. Emily looked straight ahead. Not now. It was a boy Id known most of my life. Whats important is that he might have gotten my body, but he couldnt touch my heart or my soul. She turned her head toward Finley, gaze bright. Ive never told anyone else this, but I had my revenge on him later.
Finley prided herself on having a decent imagination, but she couldnt begin to fathom the sort of suffering a girl as intelligent and determined as Emily could exact from such a bastard. She thought about the boot print she herself had left on Lord Felixs forehead, and how good it had felt. Did that make it easier?
It did, a little. I felt like I got a piece of myself back. Please dont say anything to the boys. Sam doesnt know. Im not sure I ever want him to.
And he wont evernot from me. But doesnt he frighten you a little? He intimidated her at times, and she had almost killed him. He was so big, so strong. So angry. Even though shed caught glimpses of lightness in him over these past few months, he normally stomped about as if a thundercloud hung over his head.
Emily smiled. Nah. Sam makes me feel safe. Sometimes too safe. I think thats why I fight him so often. I refuse to hide behind him. I dont want him to stand in front of me and shield me. I want him to stand beside me. With me.
Finley understood, so she nodded. What could she possibly say?
Small, warm fingers tangled with hers and squeezed. Emily had taken her hand and was smiling at her in a way that made her chest tight. Thank you for caring enough to ask, but also not to push. Id forgotten what it was to have a best friend before you came along.
Oh, blast. Finleys throat felt as though it was closing up on itself, and her eyes burned most uncomfortably. She didnt trust herself to speak, so she pulled her hand free and wrapped her arms around the Irish girl, lifting her off the ground in a fierce hug that made her squeal with laughter.
They walked the remainder of the distance to the exit in comfortable silence. It wasnt until they were almost out that Finley realized she no longer felt as if they were being watched. They hadnt encountered anyone else in the catacombs, hadnt even seen a sign of humanity in that area.
So who could have been watching? And why?
Something dropped to the ground beside her. She whirled around, ready to fight. Emily pulled an Aether pistol from the holster on her belt.
It was a rat. There was another one on a ledge above their headsno doubt the first ones mate. The one above them had a button in its teeth that looked to be mother-of-pearl.
She and Emily exchanged sheepish glances. I reckon we were being watched after all, she joked.
Emily shook her head, putting her pistol away. Lets go home. Theres nothing down here.
Finley agreed, and when they rounded the next corner they saw light from the exit ahead. It was odd for Jack to have been so wrong, but whoever had the crate must have moved it that same day. There was nothing down here to be worried about, except a rat with a button in its mouth.
Nothing at all.
Chapter 5
If it were possible for people to be the weather, then Sam Morgan would be a thunderclouddark, tumultuous, as gorgeous as he was intimidating. He watched the girls approach from his bedroom window.
He looks like he is on the verge of imploding, Finley commented. They were walking back from the stables where theyd left their velocycles.
Emily smiled, glancing up. Her gaze met Sams for a second before he dropped the curtain. That he does. But she considered it a victory that he hadnt tried to follow her, that he had trusted her to go with Finley and to return in one piece.
Gadzooks. You like it when hes all scowly and thumping his chest.
Sometimes, thought Emily, Finley was infuriatingly intuitive. Although, perhaps she underestimated her friends intelligence. perhaps she didnt hide her feelings as brilliantly as she thought.
It lets me know he cares, she admitted. Its not as though hes the type to say what hes feeling. Today was turning out to be a champion for sharing secrets. Why not tell Finley the shocking thoughts she sometimes had about Sam? Intimate thoughts based on pictures shed seen in a book in Griffins librarythoughts of her and Sam doing some of those thingsthings she thought shed never want to do with anyone. What?
Finley stared at her as they crossed the garden terrace to the French doors. Your face is burning so bright, Im afraid for the draperies. Are you all right?
Fortunately, no one ever died of embarrassment. Must be the sun. I always end up looking like a tomato.
Right, her friend drawled. Because the sun is so very hot through those thick rain clouds.
Oh, shut up! Emily laughed despite herself. Im blushing and Ive no intention of explaining why.
A slow grin spread across the other girls pretty face. Eyes the color of honey twinkled as she opened the terrace door. Oh, is that the way of it, then?
Emily swept past her into the house. Tis. Her mirth faded when she saw Sam waiting for her. He looked relieved to see her. That was almost as good as happy. Hed been worried, that was obvious. She could assume he thought she couldnt take care of herself, but she knew that wasnt it. Sam just thought he could look after her better than anyone else.
It was sweet when she thought about it. Somewhat.
Even Finley noticed the difference in his expression, though he wore his usual frown. She took one look at him and turned to Emily. Right. Im going to godo thatthing I have to do.
Griffin wants to see you, Sam said in a tone that made Griffin sound like the matron at a strict school.
Does he? Finleys jaw set stubbornly. I dont know if I have time. Im going to be terribly busy.
Doing that thing you have to do? he inquired. Was he actually teasing Finley? He used to make sport of his friends quite often before his accident.
Quite. Finley lifted her chin. Its very important.
For a moment, Emily thought Sam might actually smile. He shrugged. I dont care what games the two of you play with each other. Youre both mad as far as Im concerned.
As Finley walked past him, she gave him a sweet smile. Maybe you can find out why shes the color of a ripe tomato.
Emilys cheeks heated once more, and she bit the inside of her mouth to keep from laughing. She couldnt laugh, not when Sam might think it was directed at him.